Bristol City 1-1 Wigan Athletic: Latics preserve unbeaten run under Shaun Maloney
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Ashley Fletcher (right) helped Wigan to a well-earned point with his second-half goal at Ashton Gate
Wigan Athletic continued their unbeaten run under manager Shaun Maloney as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Rob Atkinson's unchallenged header gave the Robins a first-half lead after the defender won his side a free-kick and Anis Mehmeti masterminded a cross into the box, from which he nodded in.
Christ Tiehi struck the bar a minute before the break in what was the visitors' only real attempt on goal during the first 45 minutes.
Ashley Fletcher then drew the Latics level shortly after the hour mark with a shot from close range, before Alex Scott and Mehmeti were both denied a winner for the hosts by the woodwork.
Bristol City have now gone 10 games without a defeat in all competitions although they drop to 16th in the Championship, while Wigan remain in the drop zone but close the gap to two points on Cardiff.
The hosts looked the brighter team for the first 45 minutes, yet for all their possession they failed to create many chances with Atkinson's goal their only shot on target for a long spell.
Scott struck a flier from outside the area that narrowly went over the bar, while Mehmeti - making his full debut since signing from Wycombe Wanderers on transfer deadline day - teed up the midfielder a second time with a drilled cross, yet the 19-year-old could not get the ball out from his feet to get a shot away.
Mehmeti was key when the hosts finally got the ball in the net, after Wigan cheaply gave away a free-kick with Atkinson fouled just inside their half.
After a quick chat with Matty James, who played the set-piece short down the left, Mehmeti picked out the unmarked Atkinson perfectly with a cross from the outside of his boot, which the defender headed straight in.
Although Wigan almost drew level right before half-time through Tiehi, whose effort from distance hit the bar, Maloney was clearly not happy with what he was seeing and made three changes during the break.
The switch paid off and his side did start to get more balls into the penalty area, piling on pressure.
Wigan's persistence eventually worked when an unthreatening free-kick found its way to Max Power. He drilled a shot past all the red shirts into the area and Fletcher - making his 200th appearance - tapped it in from a few yards out, right under keeper Max O'Leary.
The goal seemed to wake up Bristol City who quickly hit back only to be twice denied by the woodwork, first through Scott, whose header clattered the bar, and then Mehmeti, who hit the post with a long-range effort, as they tried in vain to take all three points.
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"A bit disappointed that we didn't win the game. We had a couple of moments where we switched off and the goal was a poor one for us to concede; no pressure on the ball, scruffy cross coming in, players missing it, and it falls for them.
"We conceded too many set plays against them and that was going to be their way back in, I felt, because they never really opened us up at all.
"After recent performances where we've performed at a very high level, with changes as well, we didn't always get our rhythm for long periods, but I thought we actually grew into the game very well and when we took the lead I thought it was very well deserved.
"We finished the game strongly too, so there's lots to be positive about but we're frustrated that we've dropped two points tonight.
"Even me saying something like that is an indication of where we've got to now from where we were, that we are 10 games unbeaten now, which in itself is a good thing but we're very disappointed that we didn't win tonight."
Wigan manager Shaun Maloney said:
"We had to make changes at half-time and the players responded.
"I asked for more from the lads and they came up with it. The three subs I sent on at the break did well, as did our later one, and in the end I am very happy with the performance.
"The players are giving me everything and scrapping for every point. But there is still a lot of work to do and that will continue tomorrow.
"Bristol hurt us at times in the first half and I didn't think we were aggressive enough in possession.
"I wanted a different profile. It is the players who change games and they did that in the second half, so I'm very happy."